Newcastle manager Alan Pardew praised Hatem Ben Arfa’s response to being dropped at Cardiff, and believes it is a sign of the Frenchman’s growing maturity.

The 26-year-old was one of a trio of players to lose their places for the trip to south Wales in a major reshuffle after Newcastle’s abject first-half display in the 3-2 defeat at Everton on Monday night.

Ben Arfa was a late substitute as the visitors sealed a 2-1 win, courtesy of Loic Remy’s double, to alleviate some of the pressure Pardew has been under.

Pardew said: ‘Hatem is a great player. His application and acceptance of the decision to leave him out was spot on and he is growing as a person.

‘I think some of the things that get said about him are not true.

‘He accepted it [being dropped], he trained very well all week and he got his reward by walking off as part of a winning team.’